The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free, 24/7 access to trained crisis counselors who can help people experiencing mental health-related distress. This could include thoughts of suicide, mental health or substance use crisis, or any other kind of emotional hardship. Callers do not have to be actively suicidal or in crisis to use 988. People can call, text, or chat 988lifeline.org for themselves, a loved one, or someone else in the community who needs support, resources, or mental health services, which are distinct from the law enforcement or medical support that someone might get through a 911 response.

988 currently offers live crisis phone services in English and Spanish and provides translation services in 250 additional languages. 988 also offers specialized service lines for LGBTQ+ and veteran callers.

Criminal justice stakeholders can play a vital role in helping to advance health-first strategies that reduce overreliance on law enforcement, jails, and emergency services. When criminal justice stakeholders understand what 988 offers, they can appropriately direct people to 988 from initial first contact with law enforcement (or before) through reentry. Getting the right care at the right time prevents justice system involvement and improves people’s chances of receiving lifesaving care. Taking an active role in the promotion of 988 will not only direct people in crisis to more appropriate care but will also allow law enforcement to devote more time to their core work of improving public safety.

Additionally, reentry service providers—including probation and parole departments—work with populations at higher risk of suicide than the general population and have the opportunity to put a free, life-saving resource in the hands of their clients.

Nearly 98 percent of people who call, text, or chat 988 get the support they need over the phone and do not require a connection to emergency services. Sometimes this support can include connections to resources along the crisis continuum, such as community-based health care providers, mobile crisis teams, or crisis stabilization centers.

However, in a small percentage of 988 calls, there may be imminent risk to someone’s life that cannot be sufficiently resolved with the resources at the crisis counselor’s disposal. In these rare cases, crisis counselors may then share information, such as the caller’s location, if known, with 911 or transfer the call to 911 in an attempt to save the life of the caller or someone else is at risk. Communities are working to ensure 988 and 911 systems are closely coordinated so that appropriate care or response can be provided as needed.

The simple act of sharing information is the first important step in awareness and utilization, and the downloadable pocket card found below can help better educate criminal justice professionals and the general public about 988. Criminal justice leaders may also consider inviting behavioral health partners leading 988 implementation to speak at staff meetings, briefings, or in-service training, so the scope of the resource is clear. The CSG Justice Center, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and several states offer public awareness resources that criminal justice stakeholders can use and adapt to raise awareness internally and with the communities they serve.

Some communities have raised concerns that calling 988 will lead to unwanted law enforcement response or hospitalization. Because of this, many jurisdictions are working on developing clear protocols for transferring calls, when needed, to ensure that they appropriately balance the need to provide life-saving emergency services with community priorities of health-first, least restrictive responses.

Behavioral health and law enforcement partners can help build trust in the 988 dialing code by educating community members about what to expect when they call 988, including reassurance of 988’s confidentiality. The National Alliance for Mental Illness can be a key grassroots partner in public awareness efforts and testimonials. Law enforcement and behavioral health partners can also help ensure that mental health emergencies are responded to with care and sensitivity, thinking through elements such as who responds, what type of vehicle and professional attire they present with, and what type of training they have, which are all necessary considerations for building trust and reducing stigma to accessing crisis services in communities. Learn more about approaches to Community-driven crisis response here.